A new tourist attraction has emerged in Arunachal in the form of a giant 100 year old rubber tree.
The Forest department declared the tree as the largest tree in the state.
Locally
known as "Atang Ane", the rubber tree with a girth of 59.3 metres was
located near the remote Kallek Village in East Siang district's Kebang
circle under Yingkiong Forest Division.

The
tree is situated in the sub-tropical forest range at 28 degrees north
latitude and 95 degrees east longitude. Its elevation is measured up to
648 metres.
To
add to the tourism potential of the state a plan was mooted by Governor
JJ Singh under which the largest tree in the state was identified.

According
to State Forest Research Institute scientist R K Taj, "Such trees are
traditionally important for religious purpose also. The plant is also
important in decorating avenues and lawns."
One can visit the tree after a three-hour trek from the nearest motorable road.

"The
tree was planted in the early part of the 20th century, much before the
Anglo-Abor War of 1911, by villager Sibeng Tamuk," Kallek head Tamang
Tamuk said.

The
tree was planted to obtain rubber from it during the time of practicing
jhum cultivation in the area and it is believed that the sapling of the
tree might have been brought from nearby Myanmar by him.

The tree may grow still larger in the coming days as it grows vertically, Tagom Darang, a villager, said.
"If
proper care is taken and the state government constructs a porter track
from Kallek to the spot where the tree is located, the site will become
one of the hotspots for tourists in the state," said Tajir Tamuk of
Kallek village.
Tamuk
also stated that an ancient bat cave is situated just nearby the giant
tree and if it is explored, it too would become a favourite tourist
destination.

The
Governor had last month awarded Rs 15,000 to Takom Tamuk, a resident of
the village, and Rs 10,000 to Rai Yayer, another villager, for locating
the second largest tree a banyan tree with a girth of 17 metres at
Kankar Nallah near Nirjuli under Banderdewa forest division in Papum
Pare district.